Maltese-flagged tanker in collision

An explosion following a collision on Wednesday between two oil tankers in the Gulf off the United Arab Emirates has left four dead, according to port authorities and the shipping agent for one of the vessels.

An official working for Middle East-based Knoo shipping agency said the collision was between crude tanker Sebu and product tanker Efxinos.

Knoo represents the Panama-flagged tanker Sebu, a 293,000-tonne very large crude carrier owned by Singapore's Worldwide. Efxinos is a 57,000-tonne Maltese-flagged product tanker, according to Lloyd's shipping index.

The accident, which took place on the Efxinos, caused no pollution, Fujairah port chief Moussa Murad said.

"We sent boats to see if there is pollution but so far it seems there is nothing. The ship (Efxinos) had just finished discharging oil onto the other ship," he said, adding there was still no indication of the cause of the explosion.

"Three bodies were found, but the other one is missing," he said, adding the accident was in waters belonging to the emirate of Sharjah, one of the seven members of the UAE federation.